AUSTIN — The manufacturer of a controversial bait used to kill feral hogs withdrew its state registration for the poison, putting Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller's plans for a Texas "Hog Apocalypse" on hold.

"We have received tremendous support from farmers and ranchers in the State of Texas, and have empathy for the environmental devastation, endangered species predation, and crop damage being inflicted there by a non-native animal," Colorado-based company Scimetrics wrote in a news release Monday. "However, under the threat of many lawsuits, our family owned company cannot at this time risk the disruption of our business and continue to compete with special interests in Texas that have larger resources to sustain a lengthy legal battle."

Earlier this year, Miller announced that he wanted to use the poison to take out the state's invasive feral hog population and that using the poison could save the Department of Agriculture $900,000 that was designated for feral hog control. He wrote that the poison could mean "the 'Hog Apocalypse' may finally be on the horizon."

The poison was classified as a "state-limited use pesticide," which means anyone wishing to use it must be licensed by the department. Scimetrics withdrawing its registration means the department can no longer license people to use the poison — a move Miller called a "kick in the teeth for rural Texas."

"Unfortunately, it seems that once again the hard working folks who turn the dirt and work from sunup to sundown have fallen victim to lawyers, environmental radicals and the misinformed," Miller said in a prepared statement. "Once again, politically correct urban media hacks and naysayers win out against the rural folks who produce the food and fiber everyone needs."

The poison's central ingredient is a chemical called Warfarin, which is used in smaller quantities as a blood thinner for people. Hunters, farmers and meat processors have concerns about the unknown impact of the poison. Animal rights activists said they opposed the bill because the poison kills hogs slowly and often painfully.

A business owner who sells feral hog meat to pet food companies sued Texas after Miller's announcement, saying he was worried the poison would affect his business. A state district judge temporarily stopped Miller from moving forward.

Denton Republican Lynn Stucky, the bill's author, said he would still move forward with his legislation.

"It's great that they're pulling that, but I still think we need to move forward 100 percent because I don't want any games played, like they pull it and as soon as the session is over, they come back," Stucky said. "It has no bearing on my desire for this thing to move through the Senate and be put into law."